Dynamic generation of target files from template files and tracking of the processing of target files

• US 9,390,097 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2014
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Knapp Investment Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Knapp Investment Company Limited
• Inventors: Chang, Peter Hon-You
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, GRETA LEE
• Application Number:
  US14/453,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20140351682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 707/766, 707/767, 707/779, 707/803, 707/804, 707/805, 707/802, 707/705, 707/781, 707/783, 707/822, 707/823, 707/824, 707/827, 715/205, 715/222, 715/225, 715/226, 715/234, 715/235, 715/239, 715/241, 715/700, 715/744, 715/762, 715/780, 715/781, 715/783, 715/804, 711/100, 711/102, 711/147, 711/152, 711/154, 711/163, 711/164, 711/202, 713/151, 713/164, 726/2, 726/3, 726/4, 726/5, 726/27, 709/229
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates

Abstract

Target file generation systems and methods are described, which are optionally for use by ordinary computer users enable those users to readily generate target files without the requirement that they know the internal layout structures of the target files. A user is enabled to select a template file from a plurality of template files via a user interface configured to be displayed on a computer display to the user, wherein the template files include changeable fields associated with corresponding field delimiters and prompting labels. An incomplete software program file containing variable name locations is accessed from memory. The program file is parsed to locate the variable name locations. The label names obtained from the template file selected by the user are inserted into the variable name locations to further complete the software program file. The software program file is stored in computer memory.

Claims

1. A file generation system, comprising:

program code stored in computer readable media that when executed by a processor is configured to;

provide at least a template file containing unchangeable fields and changeable fields to be converted to a target file;

provide a first user interface for display configured to receive from the user;

input data;

a selection of a location of a changeable field to be replaced by the input data;

wherein the input data includes a file name;

wherein the first user interface includes;

an input text field configured to receive a Web address in the Uniform Resource Locator format;

a command control that, when activated, initiates at least one of;

a download and display of a Web page associated with the received Web address, and

a display of Web addresses of Web pages currently being displayed in corresponding windows, wherein

when a user selects a Web address from the display of Web addresses, the selected Web address is displayed in the input text field and content of the Web page of the selected Web address is confirmed to be included in the target file; and

an operation control via which the user can initiate an operation with respect to at least one file selected by the user.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code is configured to detect if an operation control item, indicating that a hyperlink is to be inserted into a text file, is selected, and if the operation control item is selected, insert the Web address received via the input text field into the text file selected as the target file via the first user interface.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code is configured to detect if an operation control item, indicating that a hyperlink is to be inserted into an XHTML/HTML file, is selected, and if the operation control item is selected, insert the Web address received via the input text field as a hyperlink into the XHTML/HTML file, which is selected as the target file via the first user interface.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code is configured to detect if an operation control item, indicating that a file operation is to be added as a menu item, is selected, and if the operation control item is selected, add the file operation selected as an operating system command or application program via the first user interface, as a menu item to a menu configuration file.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code is configured to detect if an operation control item, indicating that a viewing page item is to be added as menu item, is selected, and if the operation control item is selected, add a Web browsing operation with respect to an XHTML/HTML file as a menu item to a menu configuration file, wherein the XHTML/HTML file was selected as the target file via the first user interface.

6. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code is configured to detect if an operation control item, indicating that a “

displaying HTTP address list”

is to be added as a menu item, is selected, and if the operation control item is selected, display corresponding HTTP addresses in a menu configuration file selected as the target file via the first user interface; and

if the user selects at least one item in the HTTP address list, then the Web address associated with this item is displayed via the input text field.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first user interface is configured to receive from the user a selection of an activity summary data repository for storing tracking information related to the user invoking at least one of an operating system command and an application program.

8. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the program code is configured to:

provide a second user interface via which a user can select a previously created template file that includes changeable content, including the changeable fields comprising at least a first changeable field, and that includes non-changeable content;

parse a structure of the template selected by the user and extract identifications of the changeable fields and rules that specify data types in the changeable content;

use such identifications as prompting labels to dynamically generate an information exchange user interface via which the user can enter data for the changeable fields or access data for the changeable fields via the system through a batch process in which the user or system provides the data to a data file; and

receive the data entry from the user or via the batch process and store the received data in computer readable memory.

9. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the data file is accessed through an input redirection facility from the operating system.

10. A method for generating files implemented based on a computer system, comprising:

receiving input data and a plurality of selections from a user via a first user interface, wherein the plurality of selections include a selection of a location of a changeable field to be replaced by the input data, and the input data includes a file name;

receiving a Web address in the Uniform Resource Locator format from an input text field of the first user interface;

when a command control is activated, initiating at least one of;

a download and display of a Web page associated with the received Web address, and

a display of Web addresses of Web pages currently being displayed in corresponding windows;

when a Web address from the display of Web addresses is selected by the user, displaying the selected Web address in the input text field and confirming that content of the Web page of the selected Web address is included in the target file; and

initiating an operation with respect to at least one file selected by the user when an operation control is activated by the user.

11. The method according to claim 10, further including:

detecting whether an operation control item, indicating that a hyperlink is to be inserted into a text file, is selected; and

when the operation control item is selected, inserting the Web address received via the input text field into the text file selected as the target file via the first user interface.

12. The method according to claim 10, further including:

detecting whether an operation control item, indicating that a hyperlink is to be inserted into an XHTML/HTML file, is selected; and

when the operation control item is selected, inserting the Web address received via the input text field as a hyperlink into the XHTML/HTML file, which is selected as the target file via the first user interface.

13. The method according to claim 10, further including:

detecting whether an operation control item, indicating that a file operation is to be added as a menu item, is selected; and

when the operation control item is selected, adding the file operation selected as an operating system command or application program via the first user interface, as a menu item to a menu configuration file.

14. The method according to claim 10, further including:

detecting whether an operation control item, indicating that a viewing page item is to be added as menu item, is selected; and

when the operation control item is selected, adding a Web browsing operation with respect to an XHTML/HTML file as a menu item to a menu configuration file, wherein the XHTML/HTML file was selected as the target file via the first user interface.

15. The method according to claim 10, further including:

detecting whether an operation control item, indicating that a “

displaying HTTP address list”

is to be added as a menu item, is selected;

when the operation control item is selected, displaying corresponding HTTP addresses in a menu configuration file selected as the target file via the first user interface; and

when at least one item in the HTTP address list is selected, displaying the Web address associated with this item via the input text field.

16. The method according to claim 10, further including:

receiving from a selection of an activity summary data repository from the user via the first user interface for storing tracking information related to the user invoking at least one of an operating system command and an application program.

17. The method according to claim 10, further including:

providing a second user interface via which a user can select a previously created template file that includes changeable content, the changeable fields comprising at least a first changeable field, and that includes non-changeable content;

parsing a structure of the template selected by the user and extract identifications of the changeable fields and rules that specify data types in the changeable content;

using such identifications as prompting labels to dynamically generate an information exchange user interface via which the user can enter data for the changeable fields or access data for the changeable fields via the system through a batch process in which the user or system provides the data to a data file; and

receiving the data entry from the user or via the batch process and store the received data in computer readable memory.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the data file is accessed through an input redirection facility from the operating system.